Understanding who may be at risk for stroke

New Jersey residents could have a stroke at any age. Each year, nearly 800,000 people experience one, and of those, more than 130,000 will die. While a stroke is not necessarily fatal, it can bring about short and long-term health issues. There are many risk factors may increase the possibility of having a stroke such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

Other risk factors include smoking, drinking or doing drugs. Age also plays a role as the majority of people who have a stroke are over the age of 65. Those who are 45 or younger are unlikely to have a stroke, but they can increase their risk of having one if they have diabetes, are obese or have an irregular sleeping pattern. It is also possible that those who suffer from migraines may have a higher risk of experiencing a stroke.

One issue among younger people is when their stroke is misdiagnosed as an inner ear infection or another condition. This may make it harder for a patient to experience a full recovery as treatment should take place within three to four hours after stroke symptoms present themselves. If a person suffers a mini-stroke, symptoms may resolve themselves within 24 hours.

When a stroke is misdiagnosed as another disease, the patient’s medical condition could worsen significantly when the actual problem goes untreated. People who have been harmed in such a manner may want to meet with an attorney to see what recourse they might have. If it can be demonstrated that the error constituted a failure to exhibit the requisite standard of care, a medical malpractice lawsuit might be in order.

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